We’re only one day into the month of May and already there’s a strong sense of anticipation in the air as to what the rest of the year will bring. The hippie few seem to always refer to this ‘feeeeling’ as Spring fever because it does feel as if a few tidal waves are mowing you down with each peek of the sun. I LIVE for this.

& whist in the spirit of diving in, yesterday I made an appointment for a LONG overdue trim/cut and breathed a huge sigh of relief in the process. Why had I waited so long?! Foolishness on my part. That, and fear. The big proponent for me starting this blog a few years ago was a dreaded run in with a stylist who wielded her blow dryer/flatiron combo to torture my kinks. It’s taken me quite a while to overcome said trauma. Last documented trim visit to the salon? Circa Summer 2011. Now, if we do the math I’d venture a guess and say that’s a pretty sad period of time to let on neglecting your hair. I’s don’t care whether you’re natural or not, there is no excuse. The care and health of our hair begins with us. The split ends, single strand knots & the increasing difficulty detangling FRO each week had finally pushed up against a wall.

I’m unsure if this unsettling feeling will quietly go away…but the executive decision was made to push through. The growth of FRO has stunted since her ends have been frayed and giving me the sad eye, so onward. Updates TK on the good, the bad….the inevitable.

Well, hi there! My name is Chai (Chatel if you’re fancy, my Mum or reading my byline) and there’s this small confession I have to make. I am addicted to challenges. Yes! You too?! Okay, so here’s the thing. I embark on them, tear apart their meaning and evangelize the fact that everyone should partake because you will always and forever be the better person for having completed…said….challenge. But get this! I secretly never finish. No need to doubt, this blog cannot hide certain discretions. But I say all that to say, that while I may never complete a’challenge’ 100%, the one ‘thing’ that I opt not to do, is give up. Most days, the most fun you can have is taking that first leap, embarking and seeing where you land. And well, perhaps learning a few things along the way.Thus, here’s today’s first post in Blog Every Day In May. (<—-not a typo)

So, what’s with the above photo. Simply? A recent pic that I’m most proud of. Taken and posted on Instagram a few weeks ago, it took guts because Ruby Woo made her debut and I was nervous. Growing up as a woman of color I had a hard time believing that I could wear red. My mum made it a staple in her daily beauty routine for eons upon years, but for reasons unbeknownst to my own common sense I decided that rouge, the color of a confident woman… meanders no where near my precious pout. I believed this until only a few weeks ago while chatting with my editor, that maybe….or rather, undoubtedly – any woman can wear red lipstick. And feel damn good about it. Now, you may say, “silly”…but I say, victory. The things we carry, the ideas we believe. As aesthetically daft as they may seem, carry weight and eventually reveal their purpose. In this case, tiny whispers showing me that there’s always more sense in never giving up.

I won’t lie, it’s been a busy few days here on the BTC end. Whew! In between undertaking a few personal projects and meeting deadline after deadline, this thing called sharpening your creative edge has temporarily taken a backseat. I say temporarily because this past weekend I became fed up. The not writing, the still dreaming, the over-thinking, the non-committing, etc., tends to take it’s toll. My creatives understand this itch, yes? The greatness is there, such is your spirit, heart and plight. They mingle together in an odd brew until you wonder what to do.

What do you do?

This is the stuff you save for the Moleskin or handcrafted journal, I know. But once upon a blog, well….folks actually blogged and jotted down this stuff. And because it’s been a long kind of Monday, I took to here to share because it’s something I used to do & kind of missed.

It’s a wee bit late on a Monday night, but hoping your start to the week has been visited by great promise. We all deserve to see ourselves as believers, dreamers & thinkers, even when we continue to doubt the most obvious.

**Hair Note: FRO has taken returned to the pre-poo and delved into this. Deets TK!

Can we all just admit it’s been one of those weeks where, if we come out on the other side, the side where smiles from friends and family (maybe even co-workers) keep us grounded and sane, that somehow it’s all enough for us to give thanks? In this corner, making it a priority to see the good & notice the helpers as well!

Early last week a good friend and I noticed first buds on the trees closest to our home and damn near skipped for joy. It happens every year, the way in which the seasons turn the page showing us something new. But the beauty has to be in appreciating the newness of it each time. It doesn’t get old. My hope is that it doesn’t. Alas, some links for your weekend…!

I’ve never had much love for the hair spray. Even circa relaxer wearing days, the tacky, sticky feel was never worth the wear. Lest we not confuse hair spray with ‘sheen spray.’ Now, sheen spray…I got down with. The right sheen spray saved many a blow-out/hot comb session. But the folks behind Ojon have delivered a hair spray, a Damage Reverse Restorative Finishing Spray, that’s loaded with goodies like Jojoba and Babassu oils, that won’t leave behind residue, a tacky mess or oil slicks. I’m all for it.

Even more reason I salute this spray? Perfect for those twist-outs, braid outs & set styles that you want to preserve sans the frizz. I sprayed this lovely potion on day 1 of a twist-out, experienced zero crunch, but maintained the softness FRO so adores. Yes, the skeptic wheel is turning mighty fast if you’ve always steered clear of sprays and curly hair. But the fun in this? You get that salon fresh smell (y’all know what I’m talking about!) while allowing your precious coils to live another day. Frizz free at that, with the hold you need to keep your twists looking their best.

This’ll only take a minute. First, grab a pen + mark your calendars = then go see this beauty of a film on April 26th. The buzz has been steady since debuting at the Sundance Film Festival a few months back, and now a slew of screenings have been added to the beat. Please go see if you’re in NYC this month. Click here to see where it may be playing near you.

With arresting insight, vulnerability, and a delightful sense of humor, Terence Nance’s explosively creative debut feature, AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY, documents the relationship between Terence and a lovely young woman (Namik Minter) as it teeters on the divide between platonic and romantic. Utilizing a tapestry of live action and various styles of animation, Terence explores the fantasies, emotions, and memories that race through his mind during a singular moment in time.

You've stumbled upon Back To Curly, a blog written & brought to you by me, Chai! I'm a writer, work-body, incessant daydreamer, currently residing in a little nook in Brooklyn. Here you'll find musings on natural hair, beauty tales & so much more. Share a bit here...